While studying interior design at Purdue
University, Clifton developed an active interest in antiques. He owns many
beautiful Chinese rugs, distinctive sculptures and carvings, old Spanish
chairs and massive old chests and armoires.

His most prized antiques are two Tiffany lamps.
In his pursuit of antiques, the creative works of several master artist have
been especially inspiring to him. He greatly admires Antonio Gaudi, Emile
Gallé, René
Lalique, Louis Tiffany and Frank Lloyd Wright.

After spending a few months in St. Augustine,
Florida, where he was the silversmith for the city's restoration commission,
Clifton moved to New York City to work as an assistant designer for
Richelieu, a major costume jewelry firm. During this period, he worked on
his own designs at night and on weekends. He sold some of these designs to
such stores as Neiman-Marcus and Bendels. Not long after he had a beautiful
shell-and-feather creation reproduced on the March 15, 1970 cover of Vogue
magazine. That year he won the coveted Coty Award - the fashion world's
highest accolade for excellence of design.